The Next Chapter for Germany’s Plastics Industry

More from Plastic. Climate. Future. All episodes →

1. 

   S5 · E6 · 3 Sep 2026 · 46 min

   The Invisible Chemistry Behind Safer Materials

   Flame retardants rarely get much attention. Yet they play an important role in enabling the plastics used across electronics, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, buildings and many other high-tech applications. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Adrian Beard from Clariant to explore the science behind flame retardants and the challenge of combining fire safety, material performance and sustainability. We discuss: How flame retardants help make polymers suitable for demanding high-tech applications Why electrification, batteries and renewable energy technologies are creating…

2. 

   S5 · E5 · 1 Sep 2026 · 50 min

   When Conventional Recycling Isn't Enough

   Our series with Plastics Europe Germany takes on another key question for the future of plastics: What happens when conventional recycling isn't enough?In this episode, we sit down with Marcel Beermann, CEO of ARCUS Greencycling Technologies, to explore the role chemical recycling can play in tackling mixed and difficult-to-recycle plastic waste — and what it takes to turn these waste streams back into valuable resources.We discuss: Why mechanical and chemical recycling can complement each other, rather than compete How mixed plastic waste can be converted into pyrolysis oil and used again…

3. 

   S5 · E4 · 27 Aug 2026 · 37 min

   Building the Energy Infrastructure of Tomorrow

   The energy transition isn’t only about generating renewable energy. It’s also about how we transport and distribute that energy — and the materials that make this infrastructure possible. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Matthias Pursch from Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics to explore the often invisible role advanced materials play in the infrastructure around us. We discuss: How material innovation is enabling high-voltage and HVDC cables high-voltage power cables, including HVDC systems, to transport electricity over long distances Why these technologies are increasingly important…

4. 

   S5 · E3 · 25 Aug 2026 · 46 min

   Rethinking How We Innovate Materials

   New episode of our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland, exploring “What HighTech is made of – Plastics as the Enablers of German Innovation Goals,” is live. Episode 2: Rethinking How We Innovate Materials How do we turn promising material ideas into solutions that actually work at industrial scale — and can we do it faster? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jürgen Stebani, founder and CEO of Polymaterials, to explore how material innovation itself is changing. We discuss: How to accelerate material development and move from ideas to industrial solutions faster How to bridge the gap…

5. 

   S5 · E2 · 20 Aug 2026 · 38 min

   Building Circularity at Industrial Scale

   Germany’s future technologies share one common denominator: plastics. In our series with Plastics Europe Deutschland, we talk to the people turning that into solutions — from material volume to material competence, the core idea behind The Plastic Shift. For our first company conversation, we sit down with Daniel Koch from LyondellBasell to look at what circularity means when it moves beyond the lab and into industrial reality. At LyondellBasell’s Wesseling site, the company is building its first industrial-scale MoReTec plant, designed to turn difficult-to-recycle mixed plastic waste into…

6. 

   S4 · E8 · 23 Jul 2026 · 48 min

   The Plastic That Fades Away, and Ends Up Saving Coral Reefs

   What started as an effort to create a better alternative to conventional plastic straws led to something nobody expected. In this episode, we speak with Brad Laporte and Michael Winters from WinCup, the team behind PHADE®—a PHA-based material designed to biodegrade in environments where conventional plastics persist. Along the way, they discovered an entirely unexpected application: helping researchers restore coral reefs by protecting young corals during their most vulnerable stage. Together, we discuss: - How bacteria can produce the next generation of plastics - Why they chose PHA over…

7. 

   S4 · E7 · 1 Jul 2026 · 38 min

   Are Circular Plastics Ready for the Mainstream?

   Circular plastics have moved beyond pilot projects. Today, companies are investing in mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, renewable feedstocks, and even CO₂-based materials. But are these solutions ready to scale—and what will it take to make them mainstream? In this episode, we sit down with Stephan Roest, Head of Circular Economy Business Development at Borouge International. Having spent many years at Borealis, Stephan brings a unique perspective on how the plastics industry is evolving—from linear production towards truly circular value chains. Together, we discuss: What it takes…

8. 

   S4 · E6 · 9 Jun 2026 · 55 min

   Is Seaweed a New Hope for Sustainable Packaging?

   In this episode, we speak with Neil Morris, founder of Kelpi, about how seaweed-based materials could help reshape the future of packaging — and what it really takes to move beyond fossil-based plastics. We discuss: Why seaweed is attracting attention as a renewable feedstock The challenge of scaling sustainable packaging solutions How brands are approaching next-generation materials The realities behind replacing conventional plastics Why infrastructure, economics, and regulation matter as much as innovation What makes this conversation especially interesting is that it moves beyond hype.…

9. 

   S4 · E5 · 16 Apr 2026 · 37 min

   Is Plastic Recycling in Europe Really Broken?

   What if the problem isn’t that we’re failing to recycle, but that the system itself is working against it? In this episode, we speak with Joan Marc Simon, founder of Zero Waste Europe and one of the leading voices shaping circular economy policy across the EU. With decades of experience bridging grassroots action and European regulation, he brings a sharp and often uncomfortable perspective on what’s really happening behind the scenes of plastic recycling. Note: This conversation was recorded prior to recent developments in the Middle East impacting global oil and plastics markets. From…

10. 

    S4 · E4 · 24 Mar 2026 · 43 min

    Can Design Thinking Change the Future of Plastics?

    What if the future of plastics doesn’t start in a lab, but in a design studio? In this episode of Plastic. Climate. Future., we speak with Beat Karrer, founder of FluidSolids, who took an unconventional path from industrial design into material innovation — developing high-performance materials made entirely from waste streams. From corn cobs to coffee waste, his work challenges a fundamental assumption: that plastics must come from fossil resources. We explore: How waste streams can become high-performance material feedstock Why design thinking is a powerful (and often overlooked) driver of…